1
a
: a usually continuous central strand of spongy tissue in the stems of most vascular plants that probably functions chiefly in storage
b
: any of various loose spongy plant tissues that resemble true pith
c
: the soft or spongy interior of a part of the body
2
a
: the essential part : core
b
: substantial quality (as of meaning)
3
pithed; pithing; piths
1
a
: to kill (an animal) by piercing or severing the spinal cord
pith cattle
b
: to destroy the spinal cord or central nervous system of (an animal, such as a frog) usually by passing a wire or needle up and down the spinal canal
2
: to remove the pith from (a plant stem)
Examples of pith in a Sentence
Noun
finally got to the pith of the discussion
Recent Examples on the Web
Liv Dansky, Southern Living, 19 Dec. 2024
The pith will float, while the seeds will sink.
—Merve Ceylan, Health, 10 Dec. 2024
The pith can be bitter, so some people don’t like the taste.
—Merve Ceylan, Health, 10 Dec. 2024
While the pith of the Great Unbossing movement is the idea that employees can make their own decisions, organizations will always need leadership.
—Mark C. Perna, Forbes, 15 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for pith
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Noun
Slice away peel and pith from oranges and discard.
—Liv Dansky, Southern Living, 19 Dec. 2024
The pith will float, while the seeds will sink.
—Merve Ceylan, Health, 10 Dec. 2024
The pith can be bitter, so some people don’t like the taste.
—Merve Ceylan, Health, 10 Dec. 2024
While the pith of the Great Unbossing movement is the idea that employees can make their own decisions, organizations will always need leadership.
—Mark C. Perna, Forbes, 15 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for pith
Cite this Entry
“Pith.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pith. Accessed 18 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
pith
transitive verb1
: to kill (as cattle) by piercing or severing the spinal cord
2
: to destroy the spinal cord or central nervous system of (as a frog) usually by passing a wire or needle up and down the spinal canal
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